NORFOLK - Old Dominion University head women’s soccer coach Joe Pereira announced today he will vacate his position after 19 years at the helm of the program.

Pereira, the 1998 and 2004 CAA Coach of the Year, had compiled 152 wins with Old Dominion. His 296-233-44 career coaching victories ranked him 32nd all-time on the NCAA's total wins list, 15th among Division I coaches.

“I am very grateful for Joe’s leadership and tenure, which included great victories on the playing field and outstanding academic performances by his squads year in and year out,” says athletic director Dr. Wood Selig. “Joe gave the heart of his coaching career to ODU and we will be forever indebted to Joe and his family for their commitment and dedication to our University.”

In 2006, Pereira took the Lady Monarchs to new heights. The Lady Monarchs won a record 17 games, and at one stretch won a school mark of eight straight, breaking the old mark set in 2005. ODU captured its first CAA crown and advanced to the first NCAA College Cup tournament.

In 2005, the Lady Monarchs won seven straight matches as they compiled a 12-7 mark and advanced to the CAA tournament. ODU knocked off CAA rival William and Mary as well as defeating Wyoming from the Mountain West Conference. In 2004, the Lady Monarchs were within one game of taking first place. ODU defeated CAA rival William and Mary for the first time and knocked off Arkansas from the Southeastern Conference as Pereira was named CAA Coach of the Year. On Sept. 22nd, 2008, the then 7-1 Lady Monarchs received their first national ranking at 25th by Soccer America. ODU finished the season at 14-4-2.

Forty-one Lady Monarchs earned All-Conference honors during his tenure, which included two Players of the Year and two Rookies of the Year. Academically, four of his student athletes were named ODU Female Scholar Athletes of the Year, and 55 earned conference scholar honors.

Prior to taking the head position at ODU in 1995, Pereira was the head coach of the Methodist College women’s soccer program for 11 years.

A national search for a head coach will begin immediately.

Year-by-Year 1995 Old Dominion 8-10-11996 Old Dominion 7-11-21997 Old Dominion 9-9-11998 Old Dominion 11-7-01999 Old Dominion 10-9-02000 Old Dominion 13-7-12001 Old Dominion 5-10-22002 Old Dominion 5-12-12003 Old Dominion 3-9-52004 Old Dominion 9-8-22005 Old Dominion 12-7-02006 Old Dominion 17-5-1 CAA Champions/NCAA 1st rnd.2007 Old Dominion 7-8-22008 Old Dominion 14-4-22009 Old Dominion 7-8-52010 Old Dominion 4-12-12011 Old Dominion 6-11-22012 Old Dominion 4-142013 Old Dominion 1-13-3